The Grand Prairie AirHogs baseball team played the Amarillo Sox today at QuikTrip Park in Grand Prairie. What was funny about the event was the AirHogs chose to wear thier black jerseys. Now anyone in Texas can tell you if you are out in the hot Texas sun, that’s the last color you want to wear in the direct sunlight.

The pitching coach for the AirHogs agreed. Let’s listen to Coach Thad Markray of the AirHogs:

Meanwhile, I had a chance to sit down with AirHogs closer, Big John Hunton. Check out this interview.

And then I caught up with him after he got his uniform on.

He’s a good guy, and we AirHogs fans should be glad he’s here. Just a great guy.

Now, would you like to know who gets my vote for the best AirHogs fan?

Nathan is a great kid, he just passed the first grade. He loves coming to QuikTrip Park to get autographs. It doesn’t have to be just AirHog autographs either. He just loves being able to get any and all autographs of his big league heroes, no matter what team they play for. I’ve been watching Nathan do this for a year now, and it warms my heart that kids still see big league ball players as heroes. I still believe there is something honest and pure in that notion. Hats off to Lil Nathan! Check out his pictures after the jump.

Good morning you bright and beautiful sports fans. Welcome to another week of summer in the world of sports. Before I begin with today’s news, please be advised that the Grand Prairie AirHogs were swept in their 3 game series with the St. Paul Saints. All I have to say to that is, “so what?”

It’s just one series. It’s the first time the AirHogs lost a series this year, gimme a break. Last night’s game was the first time they were shut out this year. gimme a break. All I can say is, it was one series. The good news is, there is a different opponent tonight at QuikTrip Park. Amarillo makes its first trip to the city for tonight’s game, and YOU can be a part of it.

So ok, here is the bad news, but let me just say, sometimes the more you try to analyze something, sometimes it’s like micro-managing, it get’s worse. My suggestion is, just look at this past weekend as an freak of nature. It was out of the ordinary. The Grand Prairie AirHogs are still in first place, just like the Texas Rangers are.

By the way, I heard a lot of folks didn’t go to the game because you wanted to watch the Mavs last night. Now I’m a big Mavs fan too, but why spend 5 hours on a team only to lose in the last seconds by two points? Crazy. Could have seen that at the ball park after the baseball game was over. They televised it.

In the first two games of the series against the St. Paul Saints, the Grand Prairie AirHogs had plenty of opportunities to get victories, but could not get the big hit they needed. On Sunday, the AirHogs were simply overwhelmed at the plate by three Saints pitchers, as St. Paul won 7-0 to complete a three-game sweep in front of 1,552 fans at QuikTrip Park.

OK, so the AirHogs were swept. I’m looking out my window this morning and guess what? The sun came up! Let’s get on with the new day shall we?

I saw some funny things at the park over the weekend. Check this out:

So come on out to the park tonight and watch the AirHogs get back on track. It’s gonna be sweet!!!

The Grand Prairie AirHogs had runners on base in eight of nine innings on Saturday night, including runners in scoring position in seven frames. However, 13 men were left stranded on the bases and the AirHogs were only 3-for-16 with runners in scoring position, as the St. Paul Saints held on for a 5-4 win in front of 2,495 at QuikTrip Park, clinching the AirHogs’ first series loss of the 2011 season.

I had the chance to catch up with Coach Ricky VanAsselberg after the game and these were his comments:

The AirHogs have just had their 9 game winning streak snapped when this series started with the Saints, and now the AirHogs have lost 2 to these same Saints. Looking forward to a little payback tonight at QuikTrip Park for the last game in this series.

Of course the game was the main attraction this evening, but I think the 2500 fans still had a great time at the park. It always make me smile when I see the young kiddos enjoying themselves at a ballgame. I was able to get some photos of them.

Field of Dreams Little League team for 6-4-2011 at QuikTrip Park

I would imagine these little guys had a blast at the park. It was a big deal for them.

And let’s not forget the Grounds Crew and Sgt. Buddy keeping the field looking so good!

As always, it was a good game, and I had a blast at the old ball park.

After the game there was a fireworks show, and then I sort of captured the mood after it was all over and fans were leaving the park. We fans need to be out at QuikTrip Park every night, to witness things like this: See you there!

The good news is that the Grand Prairie AirHogs are in first place in their division. They had just come back from a road trip and a 9 game winning streak. That’s the baseball side of things. The entertainment side of the game is equally as important.

Watching great baseball is fun. But let’s face it, we fans like to eat at ball games right? We also want to have fun at ball games as well. I’m just saying, for the money, I don’t know how to beat a fun night at QuikTrip Park in Grand Prairie.

AirHog player Greg Porter's wife Morgan, and their baby Dash, along with Ace Bacon and me

What lots of folks don’t realize is this is a business, like everything else. There are players out there that are real people, with real families, along with real dreams and desires, just like you and me. I get the feeling sometimes that because baseball is a game, that we fans don’t stop to consider that this isn’t a serious proposition for these players. If they (the players) don’t produce, they could be sent elsewhere. That’s not a knock on the AirHogs, that’s sports in general. I go to many ballgames in a season, and I see how much the players give of themselves.

And you know who else gives a lot of themselves at ball games? The staff and contractors at ball games. Watch this.

You see this young lady here in the video?

She’s an intern for the AirHogs. That means she doesn’t get paid directly from the organization. She is working on her Master’s degree from a local college, and gets educational credit for her volunteer work.

There are so many people involved to put this grand show on night after night. You might think this would take lots of money to go see a game right? Look at this.

Sooooooo much for sooooo little.

So let’s recap here.

1. A quality baseball team that is in first place in their division.

2. A beautiful ball park that is in the shade when game time rolls around. Did I mention there is a swimming pool in center field? (It’s called Porter’s Pool because Greg Porter was the first player to hit a home run in the pool).

3. Just about any kind of food and drink you need. Yes, a beer and a dog is standard here. Peanuts and cotton candy too.

The Grand Prairie AirHogs kept rolling Saturday night, beating the Shreveport-Bossier Captains 5-3 for their fourth straight win and a clinch of their fourth straight series win in front of 2,380 fans at QuikTrip Park.

The AirHogs (10-5) began the attack in the first, with David Thomas , Cesar Nicolas and Greg Porter singling with one out in the first to load the bases. Captains starter Aaron Cunningham (1-2) then threw eight of the next nine pitches out of the strike zone to John Alonso and Tyler Henley, giving Grand Prairie the lead. The red-hot Jake Taylor then hit a sac fly to make it 3-0 before Cunningham was able to get out of the inning.